Walker g



(No Model.)

W. G. BROWNE.

AUTOMATIC GUT-OPP FOR WATER PIPBS. No. 351,093. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

WALKER G. BROVNE, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGlNOIt TO THE UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC VATER CUT-OFF COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF FOR WATER-PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,093, dated October 19, 1886.

Application filed March 15, 1886. Serial No. 195,372. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, VALKEE G. BEOWNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Cut-Offs for Water-Pipes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in 1o the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic valves that are actuated by a change of temperature; and it consists in utilizing the known difference in the expansion and contraction of different metals under the same degree of temperature, as will be hereinafter i'ully described, and then specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l. is a side view of the device with a portion of the side broken away to show the inside. Fig. 2 is an edge view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, showing the sustaining-bolts and contiguous parts; and Fig. 4 shows the top of one of the compound plates and the metal tape.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

A represents a pipe, and B a valve of any construction, in which a partial turn one way will open it and the other way close it.

b is a lever, and b is a weight.

Gis a support, preferably of metal and boxshaped, with a cover, which is clamped by the hook-bolts k to the pipe, for the purpose of keeping it in the desired relative position to the valve.

The parts marked d e f f/ are strips or plates of metal having low expansive property, preferably steel, and the parts marked d e f g are strips of metal having high expansive property, preferably brass. The two kinds of strips are riveted together in pairs of one of each kind of strip, thus forming compound strips, as shown. The strips e and f are hinged together by pins 7L and h. The pin 7L passes also through the lugs j. These two strips are a sufficient distance apart to prevent their touching even when any probable heat shall have, by reason of the greater expansive property of the inner strips, bent them inwardly. .To the compound strip composed of the strips e and e is riveted the compound strip composed of the strips el and (Z, near the hinge h, and to the compound strip composed ofthe strips j' and f is riveted the compound strip composed of the strips g and g', also near the hinge h.. This 6o system of compound strips is supported by the hinge j and kept in an upright position by the pins p p. Between the strips d and d are placed liners Z Z, to separate them sufficiently to allow the metal tape t to pass through between the strips l and d. rl'lhe metal tape t is attached at one end to the weight b, for the purpose of sustaining it. There is also a hole in the metal tape, through which the end of the sliding bolt s passes. This sliding bolt s 7o is provided with an adjusting-uut, n, and a coiled spring, s', Fig. 3.

In arranging the two kinds of metals having different expansive property, as shown and above described, the effect of a lower tempera- 7 5 tu re is to contract those parts of the compound strips marked d', e', f, and y to a greater degree than those marked (l, c, f, and g, which will cause the free ends of the strips d d/ and g g to assume positions a greater distance from 8o the other, by reason of which the bolt s, being attached to the strip g g', will be withdrawn from the hole in the metal tape t, and allow the weight to close the valve. The object of this invent-ion being to prevent pipes from freezing 8 5 by cutting off the water, it is desirable to prevent its being permanently turned on until the temperature shall have risen to a point above that at which it was set to turn it off. Therefore it is an advantage that the sliding bolt 9o will not enter the hole in the metal tape tuntil the higher temperature shall have straightened the compound strips by the unequal expansion of their two sides. Vhen this eXpansion shall take place, (straightening the compound strips) the spring s' will be compressed, thus making the bolt act as a catch-bolt to enter the hole in the metal tape whenever the valve shall be opened by means of the tape.

The valve may be closed at any time by with- Ico drawing the sliding bolt by hand by means of the knob r, the bolt being prevented from entirely withdrawing 'from the hole in the strip d by the knob coming in Contact with the pin fr. By means of the nut n the sliding bolt can be adj ustedto release the tape at any desired 5 temperature.

p The casing form/ing a portion of the support C, and being provided with lugs Vc c, has a hinged cover, which is provided with a lug, 0, Aby means of which the cover may be locked with an ordinary padlock, or otherwise fastened. This will prevent the valve from `being opened orclosed, except when it shall be done automatically by a change of temperatureor by a person having means of opening the box,A I5 as it is my intention to always box up or otherwise make the Weight and lever inaccessible When it is not, as usual,I underground.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as as new, and desire to secure by Let- V2o ters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an automatic cut-off for water-pipes, the combination of the self-closing valve B with the compound plates e e and ff', hinged together, the supplemental compound plates cl d and g g', the tape t, and sliding bolt S, 25 all arranged and operating substantially as shown and described, for the purposelspecied.

2. In a cut-off for Water-pipes, the combination of the valve B, provided with anaetuating-lever, with the tape t and bolt s, provided with an adjusting-nut, n, pressure-spring s', and the compound plates supported and inclosed by the box-shaped support C, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 3 5 presence of two Witnesses.

VALKER G. BROVNE.

Vitnesses: J.. H. JAuns, W. F. MANRY. 

